Young man infected with HIV and drug trafficking via social networks

On August 20, 2020, the Provincial People's Court tried defendant Ha Van Duy (born in 1986; residing in Nong Trang hamlet, Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district) for the crime of "illegal drug trafficking".

Defendant Ha Van Duy at trial. Photo: An Quynh.

It is known that Ha Van Duy used Facebook and met a woman online with the nickname “Mai Phuong”. After many conversations, the woman asked Duy to buy some “illegal goods” for her. Seeing the profit in front of him, Duy agreed. The woman ordered 15 packages of drugs (pink pills) for 5 million VND, and when Duy delivered the goods, he would pay the full amount.

At around 6:00 p.m. on April 15, 2020, Duy used his wife's motorbike to go to Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district to meet and buy 15 packages of drugs from a man. After purchasing the drugs, Duy informed the woman nicknamed "Mai Phuong" and arranged to meet at Treo bridge (Chau Hoi commune, Quy Chau district) to make the transaction.

Ha Van Duy was arrested with evidence. Photo: Quynh Trang

At around 8:00 p.m. on April 15, 2020, Duy put the goods in his shirt pocket and drove to the delivery location. At that moment, the Quy Chau District Police working group discovered suspicious signs and immediately checked and confiscated the goods from Duy's shirt pocket.

The person in the car took advantage of the moment to run away.

It is known that Ha Van Duy was a drug addict and had been infected with HIV for many years. At the trial, Ms. Luong Thi N. (the defendant's wife) also affirmed that because she was working far away, she did not know that her husband was addicted to drugs at home. When she discovered that Duy was infected with HIV, Ms. N. was 3 months pregnant. A miracle happened to her family when all 3 mothers and children were not infected.

At the end of the trial, Ha Van Duy was sentenced to 20 years in prison.